BLOG POST #45. "Over the edge".

In this chapter a few uglies go to New Pretty Town to do a "Trick". They make the words, "THE SMOKE LIVES", with sparklers. If you had ONE chance to post a message important to you, what would it be and why?

When Life rains on your parade, bring out the Slip n' Slide.

• This really just means to not let stuff get to you. A modern take on the old "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade". And I'd write it with chalk, in block letters. :-)
  

BLOG POST #44. "Accomplices".

The Uglies they met in this chapter are similar to Tally at the beginning of the book. When you compare her to these Uglies, how has Tally changed and what has made her change?

BLOG POST #43. "Familiar Sights".

Do you think Tally's plan will work? David wants to save his parents, but what's driving Tally? Do you think she is crazy, or are her feelings valid?

BLOG POST #42. "Oil Plague".

How do David and Tally describe the Rusties? Is it accurate?

What are weaknesses of OUR society?

What are weaknesses of THEIR society?

BLOG POST #41. "Maddy and Az".

Find information and a picture about a time we weren't prepared. (i.e. a natural disaster or attack). Post the information and cite it.

http://genealogy.about.com/od/historic_disasters/tp/deadliest_us.htm- Information

http://janezlifeandtimes.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/1900-hurricane-galveston.jpg- Picture.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9WyTibVLoJE- Video.

Galveston, TX Hurricane. September 18, 1900.

Estimated death toll: about 8000

• The deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history was the hurricane that ripped into the rich, port city of Galveston, Texas, on September 18, 1900. The category 4 storm devastated the island city, killing 1 in 6 residents and destroying most of the buildings in its path. The building which housed the port's immigration records was one of many destroyed in the storm, and few Galveston ships manifests survive for the years 1871-1894.

BLOG POST #40. "Ruin."

Describe the irony in Tally's "victory" over Dr. Cable. What was lost in the process?

"She found the duffel bag half-hidden, shoved under a moss-covered fallen tree. Zipping it open, Tally saw that the magazines were still there, each one lovingly wrapped in its own plastic cover. She slung the bag over her shoulder, glad to have salvaged something from the library, a small victory over Dr. Cable."

BLOG POST #39. "Amazing".

Is David right? Is Tally amazing? Do you think that she should feel guilty? Why or why not?

• No. Tally has just (unknowingly) completely destroyed the one safe haven for runaways that only want to escape the bubblehead operation. Then, she is told of her profound amazing-ness by the boy that she stole from Shay. So, yes, she should feel guilty. No, David isn't right; Tally is not amazing. He's only in love with her cover.

BLOG POST #38. "Run".

Who is the voice in the dark? Do you think it would be a friend or an enemy to Tally? What do you think Tally will do?

• Tally's enemies had no way to get in before her, much less actually finding it, which means that she'll encounter a Smokey that wasn't near the invasion site, but a Smokey nonetheless. David, perhaps? She couldn't find him earlier, and what a perfect place for them to meet up again. . . .

BLOG POST #37. "In Case of Damage".

Explain what Self Preservation means to you. Is it the most important thing? Would you lie because of it?

• To me, self preservation's definition is practically spelled out in the words: taking care of yourself at all costs. Yes, of course I'd lie to save myself. Like Tally's city-taught party line: It's human evolution. And it may be the most important thing, but I think that you should always try to help others, too. Because that's human evolution, as well. We're all programmed to look out for those who maybe couldn't do it themselves.

BLOG POST #36. "The Rabbit Pen".

Tally had changed her mind about the Smoke and the operation, but what will she do about all that now? Whose side is she on?

• The truth about becoming Pretty is too drastic to forget, so I don't think Tally will be running back anytime soon. And she doesn't exactly hide her dislike towards Dr. Cable, either. But Tally doesn't have anything against the Smokies. So it's completely 'sense-missing' that she'd betray them again.

BLOG POST #35. "Invasion".

Is this the climax of the book? Explain why or why you don't think so in a few sentences.

• Tally Youngblood's biggest mistake yet? It has to be. But more than that, everything is changing. The Specials have arrived just after Tally and David work out their star-crossed relationship. And Smokies are captured, bound, and set to return to their cities. In a novel filled with obstacles, 'Invasion' seems to be the chapter where they all clump together, daring Tally to jump over them.

BLOG POST #34. "Burning Bridges".

Read the following quote David says to Tally.

"What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful."

Name one person in your personal (home) life and one in your academic life (you may leave them nameless if you wish). . . what makes this person beautiful?

BLOG POST #33. "Pretty Minds".

Respond to the following quote, what does it mean to you/to the story?

"Becoming pretty doesn't just change the way you look. . . it changes the way you think."

• Tally has just learned that the city that makes her beautiful, feeds and clothes her, is rewiring her brain. Programming it into a compliant, vapid, and lazy Pretty. This really is (I think) the turning point of Uglies. Because maybe, with such a terrible realization, Tally won't want to return to the city, and in doing so will salvage her mangled friendship with Shay. To me, well, I just want to know how exactly they change the way you think. :-)

How would you want to change mentally and physically if you were pretty? (Think. . . habits, intelligence, and physical attributes.)

• First of all, I'd make myself alot smarter. My body would have all of the Special advantages, without the cruel Pretty features. I'd be 5'2, complete with standard Pretty clear skin, big eyes, full lips, and waist-length wavy hair. :-)

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BLOG POST #32. "The Secret".

What does the following quote tell you about the city and society in general?

"But you do know about genetics don't you? Sure, I know all about genes. I knew two sisers, uglies, who looked almost the same. But parents and children? That's just weird."

Predict what you think being "Pretty" really is.

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BLOG POST #31. "Bravery".

Find an example of: (Quote directly and give page numbers.)

Imagery -

Personification -

Simile -

Does it require bravery to meet David's parents, why or why not?

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BLOG POST #30. "Suspicion".

Do you think that Shay has a right to be jealous of Tally? Why or why not?

• Yes, she does. Tally hasn't been a very good spy.

Tally received a gift from David in the chapter that is special. Have you ever recieved something that made others jealous as this gift did? Did your gift have a meaning as Tally's had?

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BLOG POST #29. "Heartthrob".

Why would it have been easier for Tally to activate the pendant right when she got to the Smoke? Explain.

She wished she had activated the pendant the moment she'd gotten there. In only one day she'd begun to realize that it wasn't just Shay's dream she'd be betraying. Hundreds of people had mad a life in the Smoke. Page 225.

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BLOG POST #28. "David".

If David's parents were doctors, why do you think they ran away? Give textual evidence to support your answer.

'"They are doctors."

"Huh. But. . . . hang on. Doctors? How old were they when they ran away?

"Old enough. They weren't uglies anymore. I think it's called being a Middle Pretty?"

BLOG POST #27. "Work".

Find an image of a skyline like the one Tally sees. Post it. What is beautiful about it? Is there anything ugly about it?

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BLOG POST #26. "The Model".

What do you think about Shay's description of a model.

"Kind of like aprofessional Pretty. I guess when everyone else is ugly, being pretty is sort of, like, your job."

Shay and Tally have a skewed view of our time. But what have they got right?

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BLOG POST #25. "Lies".

Characterization: David

Find a picture of what YOU think the Smoke looks like and post it on your blog with an explanation of why you chose it. (And, of course, the URL.) :-)

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BLOG POST #24. "Bug Eyes".

List the important events of the chapter in chronological order.

1. Tally is pulled to shore by the masked fire starters. Shay's "Fire Bug
   Eyes".
2. She is given "oh-two", a substance designed to steady her heavy breathing.
3. When the fire starters reveal their true faces by discarding the masks, Tally is shocked to stand before New Pretties.
4. Tally climbs up aboard the old Rusty contraption that was saved for it's ability to move without the use of magnetism.
5. Next, the Fire Bug Eyes reveal themselves once again as Rangers, the people dedicated to burning and killing a specific Rusty weed in order to save the surrounding vegetation.
6. Somehow, the Rangers are aware of Tally's desire to reach the Smoke.
7. Tally learns yet another point of view on the Smokies: They're crazy for wanting to stay Ugly, secretive, and unwilling to trust other people.
8. The Rangers give Tally a last-minute backup plan. If the Smoke doesn't work out, she can always volunteer for them and become a weed-fighter.
9. Tally is dropped of at the Smokies' meeting point.
10. Tally begins to feel nervous as she nears ratting out Shay.

Respond to the following quote:

"...Tally was stuck out here in the wild forever. Ugly for life. Her only way home was to betray her friend."

• Tally seems to be realizing that she will not, in fact, be ending Shay's big adventure, but ruining her lifestyle. Poor Tally. I only hope she makes the right choice.

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BLOG POST #23. "Firestorm".

Give one example of each of these from the chapter:

• Imagery -

• Personification -

• Simile -

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BLOG POST #22. "The Side You Despise".

What do you think the flying machine was? Who was in it?

Make a prediction.

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BLOG POST #21. "The Worst Mistake".

Have you ever made yourself do something that you didn't want to because you knew you had to?

Predict what you think will happen next.

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BLOG POST #20. "SpagBol".

Invent a dried food that you'd take with you on your journey if you were Tally. What would it be? How would you make it?

• AlfreNoods. Angel Hair spaghetti noodles and Alfredo, or 'Special' sauce. Topped with oregano, pepper and hamburger meat. (not the tastiest combination, but nevertheless, a source of protein while trekking 'cross the wild)

• I'd recreate this recipe I stumbled upon last summer with my friend, Cassie, by dehydrating the sauce, noodles, any other ingredients and then seperating them into serving-size packets. When needed, I could easily tear open the plastic, mix with purified water, and proceed to set the container (or whatever else I used) over a lit fire or other source of heat. Viola! AlfreNoods.

Things that I'd miss the most about home if I were forced to leave:

• Well, my family, for one. That would be the worst. But I'd definitely bring my puppy, Taysha. I don't know how I'd do it, but if I were Tally, I think I would build a covering over a hoverboard and then set it to follow my crash bracelets. :)

• The ability to randomly pilfer through the pantry and fridge. I'd have to ration my SpagBol, PadThai, CurryNoods, or whatever I could secretly borrow from Uglyville.

• Fresh clothes. There's only so much you can bring with you on a hoverboard. :) So there's no telling how long I'd be wearing the same outfit. But I'd probably buy special camping stuff like long-lasting microfiber shirts and whatnot. And Tally even wears a backpack on her way to the Smoke. So, yeah.

• New reading material. Even though I'd probably never even find the time to pore over printed words while on a journey away from home, I'd still miss it. However, in Tally's futuristic world, I could probably download novels onto some program embedded in my brain, then read them about a foot in front of my eyes thanks to another program that deals with my vision. :)

• The 'Rusty' Air-Conditioning and Heater that lets me control the temperature around myself. Again, Tally's Pretty scientists can probably warm up or cool down the actual temperature of your skin, but I don't know that. So controlled temperature's the fifth thing I'd miss away from home. :)

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BLOG POST #19. "Leaving".

Why do you think Tally ultimately decides to figure out where Shay is?

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BLOG POST #18. "Infiltrator".

Give a chronological list of important events that happened in the chapter.

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BLOG POST #17. "Peris".

Why do you think Peris comes back? Support your answer with textual evidence.

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